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Original poster

LONG car journey with cat - advice please

60 replies

Catcatcat12 · 14/06/2022 08:04

We are driving to the south of France this summer and we are bringing our indoor only cat. We’ve done a 5 hour journey once before but this would be considerably longer.

I would love to hear your best travel tips. How do we best sort out the litter tray and food for the journey? How do we keep her comfortable and happy?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
coffeecupsandfairylights · 15/06/2022 12:00

I really don't think that's a good idea 🙈

WestHamAreMassive · 15/06/2022 12:06

Wow! I don't think this is a good idea

Costacoffeeplease · 15/06/2022 12:10

It is doable. Get a small dog sized crate with room for a bed and litter tray, food and water. Cats usually travel well, and are more settled than some dogs. (My husband used to take animals to/from the U.K. for owners who didn’t want to fly them when they moved here. We’re in Portugal)

RandomQuest · 15/06/2022 12:18

Comfortable and happy is a stretch, you can probably make it tolerable though. You need a big crate with absorbent bedding. This is for air travel but the idea with the bowls woulf still work for the car:
www.petaircarrier.com/pet-travel-tips/food-water-pet-travel/

My cat has flown transatlantic twice, so probably a similar time in the crate including boarding and customs, to the drive to SoF if you do it in one go. He looked pissed off when we picked him up but bounced back quickly!

Basilbrushgotfat · 15/06/2022 12:27

A large crate is the only way I think op, secured so it doesn't move about, and with room for litter tray, bed etc. I'd look at food and water bowls that attach to the bars rather than sit on the floor.

And something to scratch on. Again you could attach to crate so they stretch upwards. Good for releasing tension and discomfort.
Feliway spray to keep them calm.

Shade from the sun if they're going to be next to a window - especially so if you don't have air con.

Be considerate of them when it comes to playing music etc too - both the type of music and volume. Cats respond well to classical music when stressed so keep some by to play if you think they need them or to put on for a hour so they can relax a bit more. I'd avoid rock and metal.

Use a roof too box for luggage if you need to sacrifice space for the crate. Cat comes first.

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 15/06/2022 12:29

Will your dcat know it has to stay in when you get there?

Doveyouknow · 15/06/2022 12:32

It's not unusual to see cats being walked at picnic areas on french motorways so if your cat is happy on a lead you can let them stretch their legs

MeridianGrey · 15/06/2022 12:32

How long are you staying there? Would have to be a long time to make this worthwhile.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 15/06/2022 12:44

Costacoffeeplease · 15/06/2022 12:10

It is doable. Get a small dog sized crate with room for a bed and litter tray, food and water. Cats usually travel well, and are more settled than some dogs. (My husband used to take animals to/from the U.K. for owners who didn’t want to fly them when they moved here. We’re in Portugal)

Doing it for a permanent move is very different from doing for a holiday.

All of my cats would fine this incredibly stressful.

Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:02

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 15/06/2022 12:29

Will your dcat know it has to stay in when you get there?

She is indoor only

OP posts:
Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:13

I realise this doesn’t sound like a great plan but I promise we would never put our needs ahead of hers, like all pet owners we love our cat dearly and are doing all the research we can ahead of making any decisions. We are considering it for the following reasons:


  • when we bought her, we asked the breeder for advice re holiday arrangements and they said the best choice is always to bring the cat with you, the cat wants to be with their family above all else. We did not take this advice for the three first years…

  • we have tried cat sitters, she has hated it each time.

  • last year we tried cat boarding, she was the sole cat in a family home and had a nice time from what we could see, she was much happier post holiday than in previous years

  • this year, we can’t find any cat boarding. Cat hotels are not ideal from I’ve heard. The breeder and our vet both advise against it


This brings us to this summer. We thought we’d revisit the idea of actually taking her with us, nothing has been decided yet so I’m doing all the research I can.

OP posts:
NoToLandfill · 15/06/2022 14:17

Did you know you need paperwork to bring a cat into the EU now? Lots of vet certificates, pet passport etc. Do not just turn up with the cat in the car and hope it will all be fine.

RandomQuest · 15/06/2022 14:19

How does it work with keeping the cat in? Do you plan not to open any doors or windows? My cat doesn’t go out either but I can’t imagine how that would work in the SoF where it’s mostly outside living?

Do you not have any friends or relatives who wouldn’t mind having the cat to stay?

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 15/06/2022 14:20

Be prepared for 5 hours of singing. When I moved house 300 miles away I got my babe comfy in a dog crate. I didn't bother with a litter tray because I didn't want it to stink the car out so I used puppy pads and bagged them as soon as she went. They will also drink out of a big rabbit water bottle believe it or not the type you hang inside cages once they get the hang of it which is better than a bowl of water slopping about. Stick to dry food. Wet smells awful and have a nice comfy bedding area. I got a harness and stpped every hour so she could stretch her legs and get some air.

Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:23

We just saw the vet for her flu jab, and asked them for travel advice. I thought I’d share in case it’s of any interest:


  • feliway spray in the cat carrier and car

  • small cat carrier is best, can even cover it should she be particularly anxious - this is because a smaller, den like space will make her feel more secure and protected, and she will also be more secure from being knocked about in the event of sudden braking etc

  • She should be given an opportunity to stretch her legs during breaks

  • The vet had some herbal remedies to help calm nerves, we have yet to look into those


Would be so interesting if anyone has any direct experience of longer car journeys with a cat. @Costacoffeeplease we know a family who moves their cats and dog to Spain every summer and they use someone like your husband for this, it’s always gone very smoothly!

OP posts:
Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:25

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 15/06/2022 14:20

Be prepared for 5 hours of singing. When I moved house 300 miles away I got my babe comfy in a dog crate. I didn't bother with a litter tray because I didn't want it to stink the car out so I used puppy pads and bagged them as soon as she went. They will also drink out of a big rabbit water bottle believe it or not the type you hang inside cages once they get the hang of it which is better than a bowl of water slopping about. Stick to dry food. Wet smells awful and have a nice comfy bedding area. I got a harness and stpped every hour so she could stretch her legs and get some air.

Thanks for the tips! And yes, we’d probably be in for a real concert. Our cat has been quite vocal on previous shorter journeys. Still not sure we will do this.

OP posts:
Oojamaflipp · 15/06/2022 14:25

Oh wow, it's a holiday? I thought you were moving for good! I lt's a long old trek to the south of France with children, let alone a cat!

My parents brought their cat back from France when they moved (not as far as the south of France) and it pretty much broke the poor cat, she was never the same again :( she yowled for the whole 16 hour journey, but she was in a normal cat box, so she might have done better in more like a dog carrier with a bit more space to stand up.

They also tried to give her a sedative (prescribed by the vet) but she wouldn't take it, but again that might have helped.

I would be inclined to look for catteries maybe a bit further afield personally (if you can't find one near to you).

Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:28

RandomQuest · 15/06/2022 14:19

How does it work with keeping the cat in? Do you plan not to open any doors or windows? My cat doesn’t go out either but I can’t imagine how that would work in the SoF where it’s mostly outside living?

Do you not have any friends or relatives who wouldn’t mind having the cat to stay?

There are screens on all the windows and doors to keep the mosquitoes out so she’d have fresh air.

Unfortunately all our friends are traveling themselves in August. One family is prepared to come for daily visits to feed her and play with her but they can’t take her in, and they can’t relocate to our house. I’m definitely considering this.

OP posts:
Whiskeypowers · 15/06/2022 14:28

all my cats find being put in a carrier and taken to the vets five minutes up the road incredibly stressful. They start panting and get very distressed

I think this is absolute madness for a holiday

TheSpottedZebra · 15/06/2022 14:28

I think this is incredibly misguided, and actually cruel.
If you're dead set taking the cat with you, choose somewhere much nearer to home.

Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:30

Oojamaflipp · 15/06/2022 14:25

Oh wow, it's a holiday? I thought you were moving for good! I lt's a long old trek to the south of France with children, let alone a cat!

My parents brought their cat back from France when they moved (not as far as the south of France) and it pretty much broke the poor cat, she was never the same again :( she yowled for the whole 16 hour journey, but she was in a normal cat box, so she might have done better in more like a dog carrier with a bit more space to stand up.

They also tried to give her a sedative (prescribed by the vet) but she wouldn't take it, but again that might have helped.

I would be inclined to look for catteries maybe a bit further afield personally (if you can't find one near to you).

Oh wow. This is exactly what I’m
worried about. Poor cat!

I wouldn’t consider a cattery, I think it must be a very stressful environment, I’d rather let her stay at home and try and find someone to look after her

OP posts:
Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:32

TheSpottedZebra · 15/06/2022 14:28

I think this is incredibly misguided, and actually cruel.
If you're dead set taking the cat with you, choose somewhere much nearer to home.

Not dead set at all! We are just trying to find the best solution. That’s why I’m asking for anecdotes, such as what @Oojamaflipp shared.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catcatcat12 · 15/06/2022 14:33

But please know that I didn’t come up with this plan myself, it was the breeder who suggested this as the best option, believe it or not

OP posts:
Fluffruff · 15/06/2022 14:33

I’m facing this journey in July not because of a holiday but because we’re moving house. It’s about a ten hr journey which will be split into two days. I can’t possibly fit a dog crate in the car and was planning on using the two carriers we have with their beds in. After the first days drive well stop for the night and they will have space to move around. The vet told me (when I asked her) that many cats just hold on during the journey (toileting wise) and wait until they can get to their litter tray. Haven’t yet looked into calming sprays etc.

elfycat · 15/06/2022 14:38

I had cats that loved a car journey, and cats that really, really didn't. You've got a lot of good advice to try.

Can you take a few short driving trips around your local area before you go so it isn't a sudden, new thing?

Have a small fan blowing air across a corner of where the cat will be. One of my car-loving cats would find a stream of air where possible - I wonder if dog's hanging their heads out of the window is the same sort of thing.

One car-hating cat was always a little more calm if music was playing. Just general mainstream radio type of stuff

It might be worth having a note/sticker in the car in all relevant languages, dated to the current day of travel, saying that you have a cat in the car. Just in case of a serious accident so someone will be aware to look out for the cat carrier.